Germany made a resounding start to their Euro 2024 campaign by defeating Scotland 5-1, marking the largest margin of victory in an opening game in tournament history.
The Germans, aiming for their fourth European title and first major trophy in a decade, showcased their prowess with a commanding performance on Friday, June 14, 2024.
Florian Wirtz opened the scoring in the 10th minute, becoming Germany’s youngest scorer at any European Championship at the age of 21. Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz added to the tally with goals before halftime, with Havertz converting a penalty following Ryan Porteous’ red card for a foul on Ilkay Gundogan.
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In the second half, substitute Niclas Fuellkrug and Emre Can extended Germany’s lead to 4-0, before Scotland pulled one back through Antonio Rudiger’s own goal. Emre Can then sealed Germany’s victory with a late strike in stoppage time.
The win sets a strong tone for Germany, who will face Hungary next before concluding their Group A campaign against Switzerland. Meanwhile, Scotland faces an uphill task to progress beyond the group stage in a major tournament for the first time.
Germany’s dominant display highlighted their pedigree as one of football’s powerhouses, boasting a rich history with four World Cup titles and three European Championship victories. They currently rank 16th in the FIFA rankings, having previously held the top spot.
